Named in honor of the AHNA founder, the Charlotte McGuire Scholarship Program is made possible through the generous tax deductible donations of AHNA members, friends and benefactors. Since 1987, the program has offered academic scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students in need of assistance to help them through their holistic nursing growth and education. These awards are presented at AHNA's annual conference in June each year. More than $30,000 has been awarded since the program began. Learn how your gift changes lives

AHNA has launched a year-long Capital Campaign for their 35th Anniversary to build a restricted endowment fund for the Charlotte McGuire Scholarship. The Campaign goal is to reach $135,000, which will allow AHNA to continue to provide individuals, like Charlie, who dedicate their lives to the practice of holistic nursing, with the assistance needed to help them through their holistic nursing growth and education. All Capital Campaign donations will be held in a restricted fund and only the annual interest will be used to fund these scholarships, thereby insuring this program’s viability and continuation. Please help us reach our goal by December 31, 2015 by donating $35. Other donation levels are $135, $350, and $1350.

Charlotte McGuire Scholarship Fund HistoryCharlie started the American Holistic Nurses Association after a career in critical care and oncology nursing, because she was disappointed with conventional healthcare. During the time of the founding of AHNA, nurses were suffering, so Charlie sent out the message, "You can come to us (AHNA) for your own healing and your own welfare". She created an organization based on relationships and caring by being that herself. Charlie made nurses feel like they truly had a home at AHNA.

The Charlotte McGuire Scholarship Fund was first announced in 1984 at the 4th Annual AHNA Conference "Nurturing the Whole Person: Developing Creative and Therapeutic Strategies for Healing" held in Asheville, North Carolina.

Lynn Keegan, who had assumed Treasurer Responsibilities from Roger Knapp, worked to find donors for this scholarship. She traveled to California to solicit a sizable donation from Charter Member Barbara Bronstein and her partner, Harry Kislovich. Their generous donation became the seed money for this fund, which continues to grow and award scholarships on an annual basis.

AHNA is in the midst of incredible growth. As we expand our resources to better serve you and the profession of holistic nursing, we need your support! You can choose how your contribution is used, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible. View our list of donors!

Why donate?

You want to bring holistic nursing to the forefront of healthcare

You understand the importance of what AHNA does

The cost of your dues doesn’t cover the cost of your member benefits

You probably already are a philanthropist, so why not give to an organization and cause that you know and love?

This is the core of AHNA’s work – from our Beginnings magazine to evaluating education programs – to organizing our annual conference.

Scholarships and Research

Each year,Research Grantsare available to AHNA members who are conducting research on topics related to holistic nursing and have been members of AHNA for at least one year. This research helps us to create a foundation for evidence-based practice and advance holistic nursing.

The Charlotte McGuire Scholarship Program, named for our founder, was established in 1986 and since 1987 AHNA nurses in pursuit of their professional education have been assisted by this program.

Practice Fund
The Holistic Nurse Development GrantThis grant is available to an individual who has already achieved HN- BC as partial start up funding for a holistic program within their own facility or organization. This grant is focused on advancing holistic nursing through practitioner self care and/or patients and their families.

Membership Financial Assistance Fund
The AHNA Membership Financial Assistance Program provides members in need a means to maintain their AHNA membership and have access to the holistic community.

Bea Alley Commemorative Conference Scholarship FundBea Alley, a friend, colleague and nurse healer transitioned on April 3, 2011. Bea was the 2000 holistic nurse of the year and an early leader in holistic nursing. In order to ensure that Bea’s legacy lives on at conference each year, AHNA has establishing the Bea Alley Memorial Scholarship. This fund will allow members who might not otherwise attend conference join us in the many important opportunities for education, community, self-care and celebration that this event provides.

Help us transform healthcare – by educating new holistic nurses, paving the way for new integrative clinics and hospitals, supporting new evidence-based research and building a caring community. Your tax-deductible contribution will fund your choice of our General Operating Fund, our Scholarship and Research Funds, or the Bea Alley Fund, our capital campaign to find a permanent home for our national office. You can honor someone with a gift to AHNA as well. View our list of donors!

We’ll help you reach your audience when you sponsor AHNA’s Annual Conference. Our conferences draw 550 attendees – an energetic and creative crowd of highly educated leaders in the holistic nursing profession. Whether your goal is to introduce your product to a new target market or simply unite with the holistic community, you will find a friendly and receptive audience among AHNA members. Exposure options vary with the level of participation. Click here for more information.